Oh man, I used to fuck up in Firebot so bad that I finally left it the hell alone. I've been pretty much hanging out in Stark Mountain exclusively, like has been mentioned in this thread, because I felt like whatever "magic connection" the most prominent members shared I lacked. Nowadays I doubt that's actually true, but if any aspect of Smogon is intimidating for the Pokemon-enthused, it's certainly not Stark Mountain, but everything ELSE.
But, hey, I'm trying.
I got into competitive battling back when GSC was all the rage on Net Battle, and I somehow got by on Serebii before the huge turning point around 2002 or so when the place exploded. I have no idea how the hell I found Smogon in the first place, but it's been fun so far. I, like many here, have learned so much about Pokemon (and even life, maybe) just by trying to be a part of your lives. I'm grateful.
I think you really need to shed your "me me me" attitude if you ever want to be a respected member of an online community, though, and that goes for anywhere. Even in the depths of postwhore hell (including /v/ and the worst parts of GFAQs), you won't get far without turning your focus outwards to others, because it gets them involved with you, plain and simple.
Excuse the run-on sentences. It's late.
Thanks a fuckton chaos, Misty, blackshellbowser, and Cat-Gonk for making this the fucking BEST thread on Smogon I've ever read that for whatever reason also didn't make me laugh!
:justin:
So, like, "cheers!", or some shit! Cool.